GRAY WOLVES AND COYOTES 235 
are finally deserted during July.. By August 1 the 
young are left by the parents to shift for themselves. 
‘‘In the earlier descriptions the prairie wolves were 
usually said to hunt in packs. Lewis and Clark, Say, 
Richardson, and others so reported, but the Prince 
of Wied met them only singly. It is probable that 
they hunt in numbers only when the quarry is large, . 
as in the case of deer and antelope, and as many as 
three have been known to pursue a single jack-rabbit. _ 
““Coyotes feed chiefly upon animal matter, but 
when such food is scarce they freely eat peaches, 
apricots, grapes, and other fruits, and even melons, 
usually destroying more than they eat. In certain 
areas they feed largely on juniper berries, manzanita 
berries, and the fruit of the prickly pear. 
Horned toads and other lizards are eaten, and, on 
the low, tropical coast of eastern Mexico and Texas, | 
coyotes have been seen searching the beach for crabs, 
fish and turtle-eggs, 
“‘Beneficial food-habits. Coyotes destroy many in- 
jurious species of mammals, and in this way are 
of positive benefit to farming interests. -The various 
species of jack-rabbit are often included in their diet, 
and the smaller rabbits are habitually eaten. The 
constant warfare of the coyote upon these rodents 
has much influence in keeping down their numbers, 
and the growing abundance of rabbits in some sec- 
tions of the West has been attributed to the destruc- 
tion of coyotes as the result of high bounties offered 
for them. 
‘“Prairie-dogs also are a staple coyote food. The 
